After years of damage, bailouts and failures, SAA is still in a very poor way. With billions in losses over the last year, the road to recovery won't be a short one.

South African Airways (SAA) constantly made headlines throughout the Zuma era as money continuously disappeared and government was called to save the day again and again. Now, the SAA CEO has been in Parliament revealing just how bad things are.

CEO Vuyani Jarana and Chairman JB Magwaza spent their Tuesday morning in Parliament detailing the airlines further R3.7 billion loss over the last nine months of 2017. Additionally, revenue dropped around R1 billion below the forecast for the same period.

The executives have predicted that the airline will return to profitability in four years time, once the turnaround strategy starts to pay off.

For the current financial year, the company is expected to show losses of just under R5 billion.

SAA will hold its general meeting on Thursday and is expected to table its results in April.

During the period under review, SAA reduced fares to better compete, still saw a decline in passenger numbers and saw a rise in running costs.

SAA Jarana: Loss of R1.6 Billion in third quarter. International sales declined by 9%, domestic sales down by 16%. #SAA@eNCA

SAA CEO Jarana says airline travels to London twice a day and is losing money. Virgin and BA are increasing Jhb to London flights because they have hubs in Europe. Also, Cape Town has reached critical mass. #SAA@eNCA

Former Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba handed the airline a R3 billion bailout last September in order to stop a default on debt obligations. Two months before that, a R2.2 billion bailout was issued to repay Standard Chartered bank.

Jarana, who took over late last year, told Parliament that “very few” skilled professionals want to come and work at SAA. He also hit out at the previous management’s handling of turnaround plans and announced that some aircraft would be sold.